The Indian walked next, stepping softly and
silently on his moccasined feet, and turning now and then to make a
horrid face at the children who followed behind him, one on either
side of the Knight-mare. The Dentist and Policeman, walking arm in
arm, brought up the rear. The party had not gone a great distance
through the wood, before Ann and Rudolf noticed that the underbrush
was growing thinner and the trees beginning to be taller and farther
apart. At last they could see through a veil of branches the light of
a fire burning on the ground not a great distance ahead of them, and
soon they came close to the enormous oak tree under which this fire
was kindled. Its flames were a strange bluish color, and as they shot
up into the darkness which was almost complete under the shade of that
great tree, the children could plainly see strange figures showing
black against the light, leaping and dancing around the fire.
"The party's begun, but not the Banquet," whispered the Knight-mare.
"You can come a little closer, but you mustn't interrupt till it's
over."
In silence they all moved a little nearer to the cleared space under
the tree, but not so near as to be discovered. Rudolf and Ann gazed
anxiously at the scene before them. First of all they noticed that the
fire was not an ordinary fire, but a huge blazing plum pudding which
accounted for the queer color of its flames.
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